Frances-Anne Solomon, CEO of the CaribbeanTales Group of Media Companies announced this week the official launch of its new video-on-demand brand CaribbeanTales-TV, an online project specialising in Caribbean film and television content. CT-TV is part-funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and aims to target youth and educational institutions in the GTA, as well as regional and global audiences for Caribbean film. The online platform has developed from a year-long collaboration between Solomon and German filmmaker and entrepreneur Cay Wesnigk, CEO of Onlinefilm.org.
“In our present time where youth are commanding and learning from Internet and new media, this is a great way for them to have technological access to Heritage stories,” says Solomon. “The Internet is not only the way of the future and indeed the present, it offers Caribbean content creators instant access to Diaspora audiences worldwide. These global Caribbean citizens are passionate and committed followers of Caribbean culture in all its incarnations, and now also to Caribbean film.”
The collaboration has resulted in the development of two distinct online platforms. The first, CaribbeanTales-TV.com is part of the CaribbeanTales Group, will go live on September 12th, and aims to include a Netflix-style subscription component from December 2013. CT-TV’s inventory draws on 300 titles from the CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution catalogue including new and past work by established and emerging filmmakers including many successful titles.
The second caribbean.onlinefilm.org, part of the Onlinefilm.org network, is a user-controlled, self-distribution platform for content makers to sell work directly to their fans. It offers Caribbean filmmakers the opportunity to introduce their work to European audiences on a pay per view model.
Digital Distribution and Marketing consultant Hessam Ghorbanian of ParastooFilm said, “The subscription model coupled with a strong marketing plan will make CaribbeanTales-TV a very high viewership online channel and the best solution to offer Caribbean films to its niche audiences worldwide.”
Solomon continues, “The establishment of these two dedicated outlets confirms the strength of our emerging industry, the viability of its content and its potential in the global market.”
Media Contacts:
Caribbean Tales
Planet3 Communications Ltd. – Sarah Zajac/Joanne Smale
T: 647.346.4101 E: info@planet3com.net
About CaribbeanTales
CaribbeanTales is a group of companies that produces, markets and exhibits Caribbean-themed films for regional and international distribution, including:
(1) CaribbeanTales Worldwide Distribution, that links quality Caribbean movies and their audiences everywhere, (2) the CaribbeanTales Film Festival Group that produces events and training programs all around the world, and (3) CaribbeanTales.ca, a non-profit based in Toronto, Canada, that produces educational programs through film, contributing to an inclusive Canadian society. New for 2013 – CaribbeanTales-TV, an Internet hub and video-on-demand platform aimed at students, educators and Caribbean film buffs.
Now in its eighth year, CaribbeanTales Toronto Film Showcase is produced in partnership with the Harbourfront Centre, and includes a Film Festival, Incubator Program for filmmakers, and a special CNE Screening series.
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